The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) decided not to accept the recommendation to improve education and work structures so that Lineup Clinic does not refuse treatment on the grounds of hearing impairment.
On the 3rd, the NHRCK announced that Lineup Clinic did not accept the recommendation by failing to notify the implementation plan of the recommendation without reasonable grounds. The respondent who received the NHRCK recommendation must notify the NHRCK of the implementation plan within 90 days and, if not implemented, the reasons for non-compliance.
The NHRCK recommended that the director of Lineup Clinic, who refused treatment due to hearing impairment, conduct disability human rights education for all staff and prepare a work manual related to providing medical services to disabled patients. Lineup Clinic claimed during the NHRCK investigation that they did not prescribe diet pills to the complainant with hearing impairment due to concerns about side effects such as hearing loss.
However, the NHRCK judged that it is difficult to see the refusal of treatment to the complainant as medically justified because the degree of the complainant’s hearing impairment, the cause of the disability, current health status, and experience of drug side effects were not assessed through medical interviews to decide on prescribing diet pills. It explained that the clinic refused treatment solely on the basis that the complainant was hearing impaired, concluding side effects without considering the possibility of prescribing medication suitable for the complainant’s health condition.
The NHRCK expressed regret that "the respondent did not notify the implementation plan of the recommendation without reasonable grounds and thus did not accept the recommendation," and stated that "the matter has been reported to the Minister of Justice."
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